Costa Rica is more than a tropical getaway-it’s a place where volunteer travel can transform both lives and perspectives. With Globe Aware’s service vacation programs, you’ll combine meaningful service with cultural immersion, hands-on work, and the beauty of Costa Rica’s natural landscapes.
When most travelers think of Machu Picchu Peru, visions of mist-shrouded Inca ruins, emerald terraces, and breathtaking mountain views come to mind. But what if your journey could go deeper – beyond sightseeing – into meaningful engagement with local people and culture? With a Globe Aware volunteer vacation, this iconic destination becomes a gateway to purpose-driven travel that blends adventure with impact.
Volunteer travel blends purposeful service with exploration, inviting travelers to give their time, energy, and curiosity to support communities around the world. At its core, it’s about learning and serving – not just sightseeing. Rather than standing back as a spectator, volunteer travelers work side-by-side with local partners to help address real challenges, contribute to community-led projects, and immerse themselves in diverse cultures.
Voluntourism – a blend of volunteer service and tourism – allows travelers to engage deeply with local communities while contributing to meaningful service projects during their trip. Unlike traditional tourism, which focuses on sightseeing and leisure, voluntourism embeds purpose and community impact into the travel experience.
In this special installment of IVPA’s Industry Series, summer intern Alida Cuttriss sits down with Fiona Lally, one of the foremost risk and insurance specialists in the international volunteer sector. Together, they unpack what your credit card’s travel insurance actually covers—and the surprising gaps that could leave you unprotected while volunteering abroad. From medical emergencies to trip interruptions, Fiona shares practical tips to help program providers and volunteers travel smarter and safer. Produced by the International Volunteer Programs Association, this episode is part of our ongoing effort to raise the quality, awareness, and safety of short-term overseas volunteer experiences. https://volunteerinternational.org/
Volunteer travel can uplift communities – but it must be done ethically. At its best, volunteerism empowers local people. At its worst, it can unintentionally reinforce dependence or disrupt cultural systems.
Globe Aware‘s approach focuses on ethical, community-led service that honors local voices and traditions.
Volunteer travel can be a powerful force for good – but only when done responsibly. Sustainability is at the heart of Globe Aware’s mission, ensuring every project benefits local communities long after volunteers return home.
The radical idea of being worked on by your surroundings
December 9, 2025
Psychology Today
In this Psychology Today article on biophilia—our innate human love of nature—Globe Aware Founder & Executive Director Kimberly Haley-Coleman explains how immersive volunteer travel and service abroad experiences allow the environment itself to transform us. Instead of seeing volunteering as “going somewhere to fix something,” she describes how Globe Aware intentionally places volunteers in communities and natural settings where “the environment works on them.” Whether mixing mud and ash to build homes in Kenya or pouring concrete alongside families in Guatemala, participants discover that they are being “built” internally while they help build externally. Haley-Coleman notes that stepping into unfamiliar surroundings—new foods, sounds, and daily rhythms—“reorganizes the molecules of your brain” and resets your perspective. The article connects this experience of volunteer vacations and ethical service travel with the concept of biophilia: nature, community, and place acting as collaborators in our growth and well-being. All we have to do, she emphasizes, is show up and allow the world to work on us.
Peru consistently ranks among Globe Aware’s most popular destinations – and it’s no wonder. With its vibrant Andean culture, breathtaking landscapes, and strong spirit of community, Peru offers volunteer travelers an experience rich in purpose and connection.
Family vacations have the power to shape a child’s worldview – but few travel experiences are more transformative than volunteer travel. When families choose to serve abroad together, children gain a deeper understanding of global cultures, compassion, and responsibility.
Globe Aware specializes in child-friendly volunteer travel programs designed to give families hands-on experiences that strengthen bonds and positively impact communities. These short-term, accessible trips create memories-and values-that stay with children for life.
